These are mentioned because while not appropriate for a WW2 setting these records are sometimes seen with other 78 records.
Sun, Chess, and Vee-Jay record companies all produced rock and roll music. Early rock and roll artists first appeared on a 78 record, post-World War 2. Shortly thereafter (late 1940s/early 1950s), record companies made the switch from 78 in Shellac to the 45 format in vinyl. Though, Britain continued to produce 78s until the early 1960s.
Record Label Post WW2: Often the MGM record will be a quad-center with or with-out text on the quad-center.Record Label Post-WW2: No quad-center just a large hole.
Numbers from start to 1945: Company created post-WW2 but numbers run from 10000-30500
Notes: Would produce budget labels called Metro and Verve
Sources: –Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978. –Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.
Founded in 1945 by Irving Berlin and several other artists. Produced several records before war ended.
Pre-1941 Label: None 1941-1945s Label: Unknown
Post WW2 Label:
Winged Head Logo: Appears on Mercury records until the mi-1990s.
Mercury Record Label 1949-1950. This is an example of a Mercury 45 RPM record.Mercury Record Label :Label from 1949-1960. Note the Long Play (LP) text.
Victor Records (1901-1929; after which it is part of RCA)
Founded as Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. The phrase “His Master’s Voice” appears on discs in 1902. Marketed a Victor Monarch Record label (1902-1905) and a De Luxe Label (1902-1905; a De Luxe Special Record that was 14in. was sold from 1902-1903) both would have the dog and gramophone logo. The Victor Monarch Label and the De Luxe Label would also be sold alongside a regular Victor Label or Victor Record Label. First discs were one sided and starting around the 1908 Victor began to produce two-sided discs. Some early Victors from 1905-1913 will say around the rim “Awarded First Prize…” as Victor was awarded first place at expositions.
A Red Seal Record series (originally one-sided and then two-sided in 1921) would be introduced in 1903 and last till 1923 the design of the Red Seal record would mimic the regular label. The Red Seal series featured higher end musicians such as Enrico Caruso and cost anywhere between $1-$7.50 which as much more expensive than the regular series records.
In 1929 the Victor Talking Machine was sold to Radio Corporation of America and would operate as RCA-Victor. RCA-Victor would produce budget labels like Timely Tunes(#1550-1600) produced between April 1931 and July 1931 and Electradisk (#1900-2510) produced between 1932-1934 for Woolsworth Department Stoes. However, the Bluebird label would be its best. In 1936, RCA-Victor would abandon the scrolled design. In 1942, RCA-Victor would introduce a 2 digit pre-fix for record series. In 1946 RCA would RCA on all the records making them RCA-Victor. By the late 1940s/early 1950s RCA-Victor would make the switch to 45s and Long Play (LP) discs. Music Genres: Jazz, Blues, Classical, “rock and roll”, philharmonic, country/western music, sound recordings, dance
Pre-1941 Label:
Early Victor: 1905-1914 (records from 1908-1914 would feature the word “Patents” at the bottom).
Record Label: Early 1905-1908. Note “Grand Prize” in the center. Records from 1908-1914 would feature “Patents” dates/information listed at the bottom of the record.
Du Du (Old German Air) on Early Victor by George P Watson
Mid Victor: 1914-1926 the “Batwing” design. 1926-1936 the “Scrolled” design.
Record Label: Jan. 1914-Oct. 1926. Note the arch (“Batwing”) at the top of label. May be in blue, black, purple or red.
Record Label: Oct. 1926-Oct. 1936. Scrolled design. Note the absence of patent numbers and copyright warnings. See also the mention of “Orthophonic Recording” and the “VE” at the bottom/top. This means the recorded has been electrically recorded. May also be in blue, black, red, and maroon.
Late Victor: 1936-1946. Concentric Circles with the Victor title label.
Record Label: 1936-1946. Note “Circles” on edge of label. May be blue or purple, or red, or maroon, or orange.
While not on a late Victor recording, Romance by the Victor Concert Orchestra:
Red Seal Label: 1903-1923
Record Label: 1903-1923. Red in color with the phrase Red Seal Record at the top.
1941-1945 Label: 1942 label with RCA-Victor.
Record Label: 1942. Note the 2-digit pre-fix for the record series and the lack of a scroll design. Note the colorization of the dog.
Listen to the Gooney Bird by Homer and Jethro, a pair of country musicians.
Post WW2 Label: 1946
Record Label: 1946 as identified with RCA-Victor label. May be seen in blue (Bluebird Series), Red, Black, or Silver and Black. Note the circles on edge.194
Timely Tunes Budget Label: April 1931 and July 1931
Electradisk Budget Label: 1932-1934
Electradisk Victor Budget Label
While not the name of the disk, here is Jim Harkins on Electradisk playing a song called Play Fiddle, Play.
The Gennett label created by Starr Piano Company. The first records produced were under the Starr (1916-1917) label. The Starr label was replaced by the Gennett label. Early Gennett labels were plain but between 1920-1927 they would feature a hexagon. In 1927 Gennett would add the phrase “Electobeam” to its label pressings. Starr Piano would cease selling the Gennett label commercially in 1930 (Gennett would live on till 1934 as a custom label) and concentrate on its budget brands: Champion, Superior, Buddy, and Supertone (pressed for Sears).
Superior (#2500-2839) was produced between 1930-1932. Gennett would often press records for other labels/companies. Appears to be mostly re-issues. Label design unknown.
Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, “Race-Records”, Gospel, novelty, obscure, Hopi Indian Songs, political speeches, sound effects, Christmas greetings, and Klu Klux Klan Propaganda (pressed on the KKK’s labels 100%, 100% American, Hitch, or KKK)
Early Gennett
Record Label: 1917-1920. Plain. May also be in red.
Mid-Gennett
Record Label: 1920-1927. Featuring a hexagon. May be in red, blue, green, maroon, or black.
Late Gennett
Record Label: 1927-1930. Black and Gold. Note the phrase “Electrobeam”
1941-1945s Label: None
Post-WW2 Label: None Numbers from start to 1945: 2500-19000
Notes: Many famous musicians first recorded under the Gennett label (Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Jelly-Roll Morton, Blind Lemon Johnson, Bix Beiderbecke, Gene Autry).
An example of King Oliver, Froggie Moore, on Gennett
An example of Louis Armstrong, Canal Street Blues on Gennett
An example of Gene Autry, T.B. Blues, on Gennett:
Sources: -http://www.starrgennett.org/stories/history/1.htm -Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978. -Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.
The Starr label was the Starr Piano Company’s first label. The records were produced for one year between 1916-1917 label. The Starr label was replaced by the Gennett label as the company wanted to break into new channels and distance itself from the “Piano” side of the business.
Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, “Race-Records”, Gospel, novelty, obscure, Hopi Indian Songs, political speeches, sound effects, Christmas greetings, and Klu Klux Klan Propaganda (pressed on the KKK’s labels 100%, 100% American, Hitch, or KKK)
Starr Label
Record Label: 1916-1917. Early Starr Piano Label
1941-1945s Label: None
Post-WW2 Label: None Numbers from start to 1945: Unknown
Notes: none
Sources: -http://www.starrgennett.org/stories/history/1.htm -Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978. -Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.
The Buddy Label was produced between 1923-1926 by Starr Piano Company. The label featured companies along the side that had nothing to do with Starr Piano.
Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, “Race-Records”, Gospel, novelty, obscure, Hopi Indian Songs, political speeches, sound effects, Christmas greetings, and Klu Klux Klan Propaganda (pressed on the KKK’s labels 100%, 100% American, Hitch, or KKK)
Buddy Label
Buddy Record Label: 1923-1926
1941-1945s Label: None
Post-WW2 Label: None Numbers from start to 1945: #8000-8100
Notes: None
Sources: -http://www.starrgennett.org/stories/history/1.htm -Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978. -Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.
The Starr Piano Company produced the budget Champion Label from 1925 to Dec. 1934 and would often feature a release of a Gennett artist under a different name to avoid paying royalties. In 1927, the Champion label appeared with the word “Electrograph.” Champion records may be blue, black or red. The Champion label was sold to Decca in June 1935. Decca would remove the word “Electrograph” and add the phrase “Electrically Recorded.” Decca discontinued the Champion label in April 1936.
Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, “Race-Records”, Gospel, novelty, obscure, Hopi Indian Songs, political speeches, sound effects, Christmas greetings, and Klu Klux Klan Propaganda (pressed on the KKK’s labels 100%, 100% American, Hitch, or KKK)
Early Champion Label
Champion Record Label: 1925-1927.
Late Champion Label
Record Label: 1927-1936. Note the word “Electrograph” beneath Champion label.
While not on a Champion Record, the song Mickey Mouse and Minnie’s in Town is just to cool not to hear:
1941-1945 Label: None
Post-WW2 Label: None Numbers from start to 1945: #15000-16832
Notes: none
Sources: -http://www.starrgennett.org/stories/history/1.htm -Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978. -Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.
Founded by Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company in 1916. In 1924, Brunswick dropped a multi-colored label in favor a simple black and gold coloring scheme with a shield. In the same year, Brunswick would introduce the Hall of Fame series. The Hall of Fame series would be produced from 1924-1935.
Brunswick would buy the Vocalion label in 1925. By 1928, they dropped the “A” – “B” side designations in favor of underlining the preferred side. In 1930, Brunswick Records were sold to Warner Bros. Warner Bros. leased Brunswick to ARC in 1931. Records between 1930-1938 would carry a statement that they were “Manufactured by in the USA by Brunswick Radio Corp.”. For an interesting look at the ARC corporate headquarters which housed Brunswick see: this 508 Park Avenue, Dallas blog posting.
American Record Company was bought by Columbia Broadcasting System in Dec. 1938. Brunswick would introduce the Melotone budget label in 1930 and CBS would discontinue it in 1938. CBS would discontinue the Brunswick label in April 1940. This violated the lease agreement and resulted in Brunswick being transferred to Decca. In 1944 Decca revived Brunswick mostly to reissue past recordings primarily from the 80000 series as a Collector’s Series (mostly blues and jazz from the 1920s/1930s).
Decca would produce the Brunswick label in an LP and 45 formats in the 1950s.
Music Genres: Blues, Pop, Jazz, re-issues.
Pre-1941 Label: The first label was between 1916-1924. Note the “B” side. The record came in many colors including black, purple, yellow, green, and blue. All have a similar design.
Brunswick 1916-1924
A second label redesign occurred between 1924-1928. Note the “B” side. Brunswick design now black and gold shield with a scrolled border. Colors may be tan or purple.
Brunswick 1924-1928
A slight modification occurred between 1928-1940. Brunswick would underline preferred side. If the record has an underlined side and has the phrase “The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company” at the bottom, it was made probably between 1928-1930. That is the time after the underlining was introduced yet before being leased to ARC. After being leased to ARC, records between 1930-1938 would carry a statement that they were “Manufactured by in the USA by Brunswick Radio Corp.”
Brunswick 1928-1940. Note the phrase “Brunswick Radio Corporation” at the bottom.
A Hall of Fame series made by Brunswick came out between 1924-1934. Yellow/Gold in color.
Brunswick Hall of Fame Series
1941-1945s Label: When the record label was sold to Decca in 1944, they adopted the Brunswick label to sell their Collector Series. The collector series is displayed predominately at the top. Decca also released reissues under the Brunswick label. These labels display the phrase “Subsidiary of Decca Records, Inc.”.
The Aeolian-Vocalion was created by the Aeolian Piano Company in 1916. The Piano company produced, besides pianos, phonographs. Having a record label was the natural extension. In Aug. 1920 Aeolian introduced reddish-orange pressings. In 1921 the title-label “Aeolian-Vocalion” was replaced by just the a “Vocalion” title-label in a black and gold color scheme. Acquired by Brunswick Records in 1925, Brunswick would keep the black and gold color scheme and add the phrase “Brunswick Record Corporation” at the bottom. American Record Company (ARC) would acquire leasing rights to Brunswick Records (including Vocalion) in late 1935 and create a glossy black design. It would stay that way until 1937 when the label turned a bright blue. The bright blue label would last until 1940 until Vocalion was acquired by Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and discontinued. The Vocalion catalog was then re-leased under the CBS name. Delta Blues singer Robert Johnson first recorded on the Vocalion label in 1936-1937.
The Aeolian-Vocalion recording studio was located at Aeolian Hall in New York. There were pressing plants in New York and Meridan, Connecticut.
Music Genres: Race-Records, Blues, Specialties, Swing, Country, Western-swing.
Pre-1941 Label: Some are in black shellac and some are in reddish-brownish shellac.
Aeolian-Vocalion Record Label: 1916-1920. This record is pressed in black. Tiger Rag by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, was first released on the label.
Record Label: 1916-1920. Label colors: Tan, Gold, Black.
Tiger Rag-
Aeolian-Vocalion Record Label: 1920. Pressed in red. The song title “You are Free: From Apple Blossoms” is recorded by John Charles Thomas who was a baritone with a “beautiful voice”. Though, Fritz Kreisler and Viktor Jacobi initially wrote the song.
Record Label: Aug. 1920. Red Record color.
“The Profiteering Blues” written by Irving Bibo and sung by Bill Murray. Bill Murray was an early 20th century singer and entertainer.
Profiteering BluesRecord Label: Jan 1920
“The Profiteering Blues” on Aeolian-Vocalion by Bill Murray
Aeolian-Vocalion Record Label: In 1921, the label drops “Aeolian-Vocalion” in favor of just “Vocalion”. When it was bought by Brunswick Records in Nov. 1924, a phrase of “Brunswick Record Corporation” is added at the bottom.
Record Label: 1925-1935 Black and Gold scroll. Note “Brunswick Record Corporation” at the bottom.
Aeolian-Vocalion Record Label: In the mid-1930s, Brunswick redesigns the label to have a glossy black finish with the label name, artist, and other record information in a scroll-like shape. The song in this label, “In That Vine Covered Chapel (In the Valley)” was sung by Lee O’Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys. The group is an example of western-swing.
Record Label: 1935-1937. Glossy black.
Aeolian-Vocalion Record Label: Late 1930s, the label goes to a Blue and Tan color scheme.
Record Label: 1937-1940. Bright blue label.
“There’s a Blue Sky Way Out Yonder” by the Saddle Tramps
1941-1945s Label: None
Post WW2 Label: None
Numbers from start to 1945: 1000-70000
Notes: #1000 is the race-record series. The Hoosier Hot Shots, a string quartet band known for there unusual instruments, also recorded on the label.
